Energy handling system

Abstract

An energy handling system is for converting, storing or transmitting energy, and includes a heat exchange unit for exchanging heat between a first substance and a second substance. The heat exchange unit has a first inner compartment and a second outer compartment positioned adjacent to each other and being separated by a heat exchange surface. The system has a balloon mounted in the first inner compartment to form in the first inner compartment a hermetically sealed volume between the outer surface of the balloon and the heat exchange surface. The hermetically sealed volume is filled with the first substance, and the balloon is configured to be filled with a balloon fluid, while the second outer compartment is filled with the second substance. The area of the heat exchange surface in contact with the first and second substances remains substantially the same during the heat exchange process.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An energy handling system for converting, storing or transmitting energy, the energy handling system comprising:
 a heat exchange unit for exchanging heat between a first substance and a second substance, the heat exchange unit comprising a first inner compartment and a second outer compartment, the first inner compartment and the second outer compartment being positioned adjacent each other and being separated by a heat exchange surface,   a balloon being mounted in the first inner compartment so as to form in the first inner compartment a hermetically sealed volume between the outer surface of the balloon and the heat exchange surface, the hermetically sealed volume being filled with the first substance, the balloon being configured for being filled with a balloon fluid,   the second outer compartment being filled with the second substance,   wherein the area of the heat exchange surface that is in contact with the first substance and a second substance remains substantially the same during the heat exchange process.   
     
     
         22 . The energy handling system according to  claim 21 , wherein the system furthermore comprises a controller programmed for controlling one of the volumes of the balloon fluid in the balloon or the second substance in the second outer compartment, thereby inducing a heat exchange at the heat exchange surface. 
     
     
         23 . The energy handling system according to  claim 22 , wherein the controller is programmed for controlling the heat exchange process to occur under substantially isentropic, isobaric, isothermic and/or polytropic conditions, during at least 50% of the heat exchange process. 
     
     
         24 . The energy handling system according to  claim 21 , wherein the controller is programmed for controlling the heat exchange process to occur under substantially the same temperature. 
     
     
         25 . The energy handling system according to  claim 21 , wherein the balloon is fixed at two positions in the first inner compartment to form the hermetically sealed volume but to further not touch the walls of the first inner compartment during the heat exchange process. 
     
     
         26 . The energy handling system according to  claim 25 , wherein the balloon is fixed in a pre-tensioned manner. 
     
     
         27 . The energy handling system according to  claim 21 , wherein the heat exchange process is controlled for occurring at a pressure in the range 200 to 700 bar. 
     
     
         28 . The energy handling system according to  claim 21 , wherein the heat exchange process is controlled for occurring with a maximum volume exchange of the balloon in the range 1.5 to 2.5 times. 
     
     
         29 . The energy handling system according to  claim 21 , wherein the second outer compartment is isolated from the outer world by an isolation tube. 
     
     
         30 . The energy handling system according to  claim 21 , wherein the heat exchange surface is made of a pressure resistant material. 
     
     
         31 . The energy handling system according to  claim 21 , wherein the balloon fluid is oil and wherein the first substance is a liquid. 
     
     
         32 . The energy handling system according to  claim 21 , wherein the first substance is a supercritical gas. 
     
     
         33 . The energy handling system according to  claim 21 , the heat exchange unit being a first heat exchange unit, the balloon being a first balloon and the balloon fluid being a first balloon fluid,
 the energy handling system further comprising   at least a first auxiliary balloon fluid reservoir, and   at least a first hydraulic pumping/motor unit for selectively controlling flow of the first balloon fluid to and/or from the first auxiliary balloon fluid reservoir from and/or to the first balloon;   the controller being configured for controlling the thermodynamic process in the at least first heat exchange unit by controlling at least the first hydraulic pumping/motor unit so as to induce different cycles of expansion and/or compression in the at least first heat exchange unit, the system thus providing subsequent cycles of expansion and/or compression, so as to control energy handling, such as converting, storing or transmitting energy.   
     
     
         34 . The energy handling system according to  claim 33 , wherein the energy handling system furthermore comprises:
 at least a second heat exchange unit comprising a second vessel with a second balloon suspended therein, the second balloon defining a first sub-volume therein and a compartment in the second vessel outside the second balloon,   a second auxiliary balloon fluid reservoir, and   a second hydraulic pumping/motor unit for selectively controlling flow of the second auxiliary balloon fluid to and from the second auxiliary fluid balloon reservoir, and   wherein the first heat exchange unit and the at least a second heat exchange unit are configured so that the first heat exchange unit is fluidically connected to the second heat exchange unit and allows flow of a fluid therebetween under control of the first hydraulic pumping/motor unit and the second hydraulic pumping/motor unit.   
     
     
         35 . The energy handling system according to  claim 34 , wherein the system is configured for inducing different thermodynamic conditions at the same time in the first heat exchange unit and the second heat exchange unit for the fluid providing the fluidic connection. 
     
     
         36 . The energy handling system according to  claim 21 , the energy handling system comprising a further number of heat exchange units selectively linked to each other, configured and controlled to induce continuous operation of the energy handling system. 
     
     
         37 . The energy handling system according to  claim 21 , wherein the energy handling system is configured as one of
 a compressor, or   an expander, or   a heat pump for domestic use and wherein the controller is configured for operating in a temperature range between 0° C. and 85° C., or   a heat pump for industrial use wherein the controller is configured for operating in a temperature range between 40° C. and 200° C., or   a heat engine, or   system for separating fluid components out of a fluid,   a liquification system, or   an energy stock piling system.   
     
     
         38 . A method of producing mechanical energy, the method comprising controlling at least a first hydraulic pumping/motor unit for operating a system according to  claim 21  as a heat engine. 
     
     
         39 . A method of producing heat, the method comprising controlling at least a first hydraulic pumping/motor unit for operating a system according to  claim 21  as a heat pump. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 39 , the method comprises distributing the produced heat to a plurality of different houses.